Predetermining counter

ABSTRACT

A predetermining counter has counting wheels, servo wheels, and presetting wheels. Series-connected contacts are located on the servo and presetting wheels for selectively actuating an electric device. The construction of these contacts is such that contacts on adjacent presetting and servo wheels are in electrically conducting engagement in only one relative position of the particular wheels.

United States Patent 11 1 1 1 3,711,016 Milvich 1451 Jan. 16, 1973 s41 PREDETERMINING COUNTER 2,936,954 5/1960 Raymond ..'..235/132 R 3,096,0l8 7/1963 Bliss etal.. .i. ...235/l32E [76] 23;; ggzr sy ggg 3,231,190 1/1966 Wollar ..235/132 E [22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1971 Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky [21] pp No: 196,044 AttorneyLuc P. Benoit 57 ABSTRACT A predetermining counter has counting wheels, servo [58] Fie'ld E 132 i 132 A M wheels, and presetting wheels. Series-connected con- PG P] ftacts are located on the servo and presetting wheels for selectively actuating an electric device. The construction of these contacts is such that contacts on ad- [56] References Cited jacent presetting and servo wheels are in electrically I v conducting engagement in only one relative position UNITED STATES PATENTS of h Particular Wheels- 2,935,256 5/1960 Burton ..235/l32 R 18 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 420 /7 I '3? 29 4 85 i 84 2 if 2/ /Z 2a 5 2 a a Z0 /Z7 53 i 2% 1 8h 78 76- l i 7 1 2 A 5 7 52 2 55 93 5 2 l. 5 9/ E l 9 95 PATENTEDJAN 16 1975 SHEET 1 [IF 2 /Z0 I Ms INVENTOR. 502/5 M/L V/CH ATTOlQ/VH PREDETERMINING COUNTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The subject invention relates to electrically, active predetermining counters. 7

2. Description of the Prior Art Electrically active predetermining counters are well known. They typically control electric circuits upon a totalizing counter reaching a predetermined count. That count is typically preset by a number of presetting wheels which have indicia circumferentially disposed thereon.

Examples of priorart predetermining counters are, for instance, found in the following US. Pats. which are herewith incorporated by reference herein: No. 3,231,190, by B. J. Wollar, issued Jan. 25, 1966; No. 3,096,018, by H.N. Bliss et al., issued July 2, l963; No. 2,954,925, by H.N. Bliss et al., issued Oct. 4, 1960; No. 2,936,954, by H.I-l. Raymond, issued May 17, 1960; No. 2,935,256, by AL. Burton, issued May 3, 1960; and No. 2,877,952, by A.S. Brough, issued Mar. 17, 1959.

Despite the abundance of prior-art proposals and equipment, there still exists a need for improved predetermining counters, as will appear in the further course of this disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a broad object of the subject invention to provide improved predetermining counters, and to reduce their cost.

It is a further object of the invention to provide predetermining counters with mechanically and electrically favorable contact arrangements.

It is a further object of the invention to provide predetermining counters which avoid the occurrence of excessive friction or gear losses that would impede the counter resetting process.

It is a further object of the invention to provide predetermining counters which permit a simple adjustment of the counter sensitivity or response.

It is a further object of the invention to provide predetermining counters with simplified or more effective devices for releasably retaining the presetting wheels in manually set positions.

It isa further object of the invention to provide predetermining counters with improved electrical connecting devices for the predetermining counter contacts.

Other objects of the invention will be obvious from, or pointed out in, the following disclosure.

From one aspect thereof, the subject invention resides in a predetermining counter having a rotatable first counting wheel withcircumferentially disposed indicia, a rotatable second counting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, carry transfer means between said first and second counting wheels, a manually settable, rotatable first presetting wheel with circumferentially disposedindicia, a manually settable, rotatable second presetting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, means for releasably retaining said first and second presetting wheels in manually set positions, a'rotatable first servo wheel rotatablymounted coaxially with said first presetting wheel. and geared to said-first counting wheel, and a second servo wheel rotatably mounted coaxially with said second presetting wheel and geared to said second counting wheel, counter input means for driving said first counting wheel, means for resetting said first and second counting wheels and said first and second servo wheels.

According to the latter aspect, the invention resides in the improvement comprising, in combination, a pair of first and second contacts, one of said first and second contacts being mounted on said first presetting wheel at a predetermined location relative to said indicia of said first presetting wheel, the other of said first and second contacts being mounted on said first servo wheel at a location corresponding to said predetermined location in terms of said indicia of said first counting wheel to which said first servo wheel is geared, and said first and second contacts being constructed to be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only one relative position of said first presetting wheel and first servo wheel, a pair of third and fourth contacts, one of said third and fourth contacts being mounted on said second presetting wheel at a predetermined location relative to said indicia of said second presetting wheel, the other of said third and fourth contacts being mounted on said second servo wheel at a location corresponding to said predetermined location at which said one of said third and fourth contacts is mounted, in terms of said indicia of said second counting wheel to which said second servo wheel is geared, and said third and fourth contacts being constructed to be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only one relative position of said second presetting wheel and second servo wheel, first electrical terminal means and second electrical terminal means, and means for electrically connecting said pair of first and second contacts and said pair of third and fourth contacts in series between said first and second terminal means.

From another aspect thereof, the subject invention resides in a predetermining counter comprising, in combination, a totalizing counter including a first counting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, a second counting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, means including a first shaft for rotatably mounting said first and second counting wheels, and carry transfer means between said first and second counting wheels, counter input means for driving said totalizing counter, a first presetting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, a second presetting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, means including a second shaft spaced from and parallel to said first shaft for rotatably mounting said first and second presetting wheels, means for manually setting said first and second presetting wheels, means for releasably retaining said first and second presetting wheels in manually set positions, a first servo wheel rotatably mounted coaxially with said first presetting wheel and geared to said first counting wheel, a second servo wheel rotatably mounted coaxially with said second presetting wheel and geared to said second counting wheel, means for resetting said totalizing counter and said first and second servo wheels, a pair of first and second contacts, one of said first and second contacts being mounted on said first presetting wheel at a predetennined location relative to said indicia of said first presetting wheel, the other of said first and second contacts being mounted on said first servo wheel at a location corresponding to said predetermined location in terms of said indicia of said' first counting wheel to which said first servo wheel is geared, and said first and second contacts being constructed to be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only one relative position of said first presetting wheel and first servo wheel, a pair of third and fourth contacts, one of said third and fourth contacts being mounted on said second presetting wheel at a predetermined location relative to said indicia of said second presetting wheel, the other of said third and fourth contacts being mounted on said second servo wheel at a location corresponding to said predetermined location at which said one of said third and fourth contacts is mounted in terms of said indicia of said second counting wheel to which said second servo wheel is geared, and said third and fourth contacts being constructed to be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only one relative position of said second presetting wheel and second servo wheel, first electrical terminal means and second electrical terminal means, and means for electrically connecting said pair of first and second contacts and said pair of third and fourth contacts in series between said first and second terminal means.

From yet another aspect thereof, the subject invention resides in a predetermining counter comprising, in combination, a first presetting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, a second presetting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, means for rotatably mounting said first and second presetting wheels, means for manually setting said first and second presetting wheels, means for releasably retaining said first and second presetting wheels in manually set positions, a first contact mounted on said first presetting wheelat a predetermined location relative to the indicia of said first presetting wheel, a second contact, first mounting means for mounting said second contact for rotation in a first plane parallel and adjacent to said first presetting wheel and for selective electrically conducting engagement with said first contact, said first and second contacts being constructed to be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only one relative position of said first presetting wheel and said rotating second contact, a third contact mounted on said second presetting wheel at a predetermined location relative to the indicia of said second presetting wheel, a fourth contact, second mounting means for mounting said fourth contact for rotation in a second plane parallel and adjacent to said second presetting wheel and for selective electrically conducting engagement with said third contact, said third and fourth contacts being constructed to be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only one relative position of said second presetting wheel and said rotating fourth contact, counter input means, means coupled to said counter input means and said first and second mounting means for positioning said second contact into electrically conducting engagement with said first contact, and said fourth contact into electrically conducting engagement with said third contact in response to a count corresponding to the setting of the first and second presetting wheels, first electrical terminal means and second electrical terminal means, means for electrically connecting said first, second, third and fourth contacts in series between said first and second electrical terminal means, and means for selectively resetting said second and fourth contacts to a predetermined initial position.

The invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation, partially in section, of a predetermining counter in accordance with a preferred embodiment of-the invention;

F IG. 2 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of part of the counter of FIG. 1, taken on the line 2 2 in FIG.

1, and a schematic view of associated circuitry and DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The predetermining counter shown in the drawings may employ conventional construction and design principles previously employed for the construction and design of predetermining counters, as well as construction and design principles apparent from the above mentioned patents which have been incorporated by reference herein.

The predetermining counter 10 has a housing or frame 12 which may be of a conventional electrically insulating material.

The predetermining counter 10 includes a totalizing counter 13 having several counting wheels. While the statements of invention and the claims are phrased in terms of two counting wheels, two presetting wheels, and two servo wheels, subsequently to be described, it should, of course, be understood that any desired number of these wheels greater than two inay be employed where necessary. Accordingly, FIGS.'1 and 2 of. the drawings show three counting wheels 15, 16 and 17. Each counting wheel has circumferentially disposed indicia as shown in FIG. 1 and as conventional in the counter art.

The predetermining counter 10 includes a first shaft 19 for rotatably mounting the counting wheels 15, 16 and 17. Mounting members or bearing blocks 20 and 21 mount the shaft 19 relative to the housing or frame 12.

In accordance with conventional design, the counter includes carry transfer means 23 between the counting wheels. The carry transfer means comprise conventional transfer pinions 24 and 25 rotatably mounted on a shaft 26. In accordance with standard practice, the transfer pinion 24 and the corresponding toothing on the counting wheels 15 and 16 operate to advance the counting wheel 16 byone step for every revolution of the counting wheel 15. Similarly, the transfer pinion 25 and corresponding toothing on the transfer wheels 16 and 17 operate to advance the counting wheel 17 by one step by every revolution of the counting wheel 16.

The counter 10 includes counter input means 28 for driving the totalizing counter 13. These means include an input shaft 29 extending through the housing or frame 12 and through a bearing 31 attached to the housing or frame. The input shaft 29 carries and rotates a pinion 32. The pinion 32 meshes with and drives a gear 34 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 19. A pinion 36 meshes with the gear wheel 34 and with a gear wheel 37 that may be integral with the counting wheel 15. The pinion 36 is rotatably mounted on the transfer pinion shaft 26 and serves to transfer rotary power from the gear 34 to the counting wheel 15.

In this manner, the counting wheel is rotated upon rotation of the input shaft 29.

The counter 10 has an individual presetting wheel for each counting wheel. Accordingly, there are three presetting Wheels 41, 42, and 43 corresponding, respectively, to the counting wheels 15, 16 and 17. The presetting wheels 41 to 43 are not geared to the counting wheels. Rather, they are manually settable to any desired count at which an electric control action is to take place.

In the preferred illustrated embodiment, the means for manually presetting the presetting wheels 41, 42 and 43 include a manually engageable first circumferential rim portion 45 on the first presetting wheel 41, a manually engageable second circumferential rim portion 46 on the second presetting wheel, and a manually engageable third circumferential rim portion 47 on the presetting wheel 43. The rim portions 45, 46 and 47 are knurled for easy engagement and actuation and extend outwardly beyond the outer confines of the predetermining counter housing. This is seen in FIG. 3 where the knurled rim portion 47 of the presetting wheel 43 extends through a window 49 in the counter housing 12 beyond the outer confines of the counter housing. In this manner, the presetting wheels may be preset by direct manual engagement, without any extra presetting wheels or presetting gearing being required or necessary. This considerably simplifies the design and construction of the presetting counter and also reduces its size.

The presetting wheels 41 to 43 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 51. The shaft 51, in turn, is rigidly mounted in a support 52 and is integral with or rigidly mounted in a support 53. The support 52 may be of a conventional electrically insulating material attached to or integral with the housing or frame 12. The shaft 51 may be inserted in the support 52 in a press fit.

The support 53 is of electrically conducting material, such as a metal, and may be attached to the frame 12 in a conventional manner (not shown) during a molding process of the frame or housing 12, or then by means of a conventional metal-to-plastic adhesive. At least a portion of the shaft 51 extending from the support 53 to below the presetting wheel 43 is electrically conductive. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the entire shaft 51 is of an electrically conductive material, such as steel or a metal with similar mechanical properties.

The shaft 51 has three series of depressions or cavities 55, 56 and 57. These cavities may, for instance, be formed either by drilling or by a depression of the shaft material to the required depth. The cavity series are located at and associated with the presetting wheels as follows: Cavity series 55 with the presetting wheel 41, cavity series 56 with the presetting wheel 42, and cavity series 57 with the presetting wheel 43.

The cavity series 55 to 57 serve as means for releasably retaining the presetting wheels in manually set positions. Accordingly, each of these cavity series consists of as many evenly distributed cavities as there are evenly distributed indicia on the corresponding presetting wheel. The cavities of each series thus correspond in number to the indicia on the associated presetting wheel.

The presetting wheels are provided with clicks or detents, two of which are shown at 61 and 62 for the presetting wheels 42 and 43. It will be understood that the presetting wheel 41 is provided with a like or similar click or detent (not shown). In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the detent means include metal balls 64 and 65 which, respectively, are located at the cavity series 56 and 57 for successfully entering the respective cavities. The detent means under consideration further include springs 66 and 67 for biasing the balls 64 and 65 toward the shaft 51. The springs 66 and 67 are retained in their position by screws 68 and 69. Bores 71 and 72 in the presetting wheels permit access to the screws 68 and 69, respectively, for an adjustment of the biasing force exerted upon the balls 64 and 65 by the springs 66 and 67, and for other obvious purposes.

The predetermining counter 12 further includes a first servo wheel 75 which is geared by a pinion 76 to the first counting wheel 15, a second servo wheel 77 which is geared by a pinion 78 to the second counting wheel 16, and a third servo wheel 79 which is geared by a pinion 81 to the third counting wheel 17. The pinions 76, 78 and 81 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 82. Moreover, the above mentioned drive gear 37 on the first transfer wheel 15 not only meshes with the above mentioned pinion 36 to receive driving force for the counting wheel, but also meshes with the pinion 76 for rotation of the servo wheel 75 in response to rotation of the counting wheel 15. Similarly, the carry transfer gear or toothing 84 of the second counting wheel 16 is also employed for driving the servo wheel 77 by way of the pinion 78. Moreover, the carry transfer gear or toothing 85 of the counting wheel 17 is in the preferred embodiment employed for driving the servo wheel 79 by way of the pinion 81. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the

servo wheels 75, 77 and 79 are mounted coaxially with the presetting wheels 41, 42 and 43 for rotation about the shaft 51.

The servo wheels 75, 77 and 79 are rotatable independently of the presetting wheels, 41, 42 and 43.

The first presetting wheel 41 and the first servo wheel 75 carry a pair of first and second contacts 87 and 88. Similarly, the second presetting wheel 42 and the second servo wheel 77 carry a pair of third and fourth contacts 89 and 91. Moreover, the third presetting wheel 43 and third servo wheel 79 carry a pair of contacts 92 and 93. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first contact 87 is mounted on the first presetting wheel 41. The second contact 88, on the other hand, is mounted on the first servo wheel, as seen in FIGS. 2

and 4.

' at a predetermined location relative to the indicia on the presetting wheel 41. Similarly, the contact 88 on the servo wheel 75 is mounted at a location which corresponds to the predetermined location mentioned in the preceding sentence, in terms of the indicia on the first counting wheel 15 to which the servo wheel 75 is geared. For instance, if the contact 87 is mounted on the presetting wheel 14 below the indicia 5, then the contact 88 is mounted on the servo wheel 75 at a location which, as considered by way of the pinion 76, corresponds to the indicia on the counting wheel 15. To give another example, if the contact 87 is mounted on the presetting wheel 41 at a location below a space between the indicia 5 and 6, then the contact 88 is mounted on the servo wheel at a location which, as considered by way of the pinion 76, corresponds to a location on the counting wheel 15 between the indicia .5 and 6 thereon. Because of this arrangement, and

because of the illustrated construction of the contacts 87 and 88, these contacts will be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only relative position of the presetting wheel 41 and servo wheel 75. An important feature of this contact construction is that the contact be laterally confined to what is necessary for proper contact formation and current conduction. In accordance with these principles, neither of these contacts 87 and 88 extend along any substantial sector of the associated presetting or servo wheel. The same principles of arrangement and construction are observed for the contacts 89 and 91 and the contacts 92 and 93.

There, accordingly, is one and only one instant at which the contacts 87 and 88, 89 and 91 and 92 and 93 are in electrically conductive engagement at. the same time; namely, when the count of the totalizing counter 13, including the counting wheels l5, l6 and 17 has achieved and corresponds to the count of the presetting counter including the presetting wheels 41, 42 and 43.

The predetermining counter further includes first electrical terminal means 95 and second electrical terminal means 96. The terminal means 95 are mounted on the electrically insulating support 52 and the terminal means 96 are mounted on the electrically conductive support 53 of the shaft 51. The counter 10 moreover includes means for electrically connecting the contact pairs 87 and 88, 89 and 91, and 92 and 93 in series between the first and second terminal means 95 and 96. These series-connecting means include a stationary contact ring 97 located on the electrically in-' sulating support 52 and connected to the terminal means 95, a servo wheel slip ring 98 integral with the servo wheel 57, a resilient contact blade 99 integral with the slip ring 98 and carrying the contact 88, a slip ring 101 integral with the presetting wheel 41, an electrical conductor member 102 integral with the slip ring 101 and carrying the contact 87, a slip ring 103 integral with the servo wheel 77, a resilient contact blade 104 integral with the slip ring 103 and carrying the contact 91, a slip ring 105 integral with the presetting wheel 42, a conductor member 106 integral with the slip ring 105 and carrying the contact 89, a slip ring 107 integral with the servo wheel 79, a contact blade 108 integral with the slip ring 107 and carrying the contact 93, a slip ring 110 integral with the presetting wheel 43, a conductor member 112 integral with the slip ring 110 and carrying the contact 92. The slip ring 98 is rotatably mounted on and in electrical contact with the slip ring 97. The same is the case with the slip rings 103 and 101, and the slip rings 107 and 105, respectively.

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the above mentioned detent means 62 with the metal ball 65, spring 67 and screw 69 are mounted in the slip ring 1 10 of the presetting wheel 43 and act as a part of the series-connecting means between the terminals 95 and 96. It will be recognized at this juncture that the cavity series 55, 56 and 57 may, if desired, be provided in the presetting wheel 41, presetting wheel 42 and slip ring 1 10, respectively, and that corresponding detent means may be associated with the shaft 51 at the locations of the cavity series 55, 56 and 57.

Operation of the presetting counter is preceded by a setting of the presetting wheels 41 42 and 43 to a count at which anelectrical control function is desired, and by a resetting of the totalizing counter, typically to a count of zero. Various conventional counter resetting means exist in the art and may be employed in the resetting counter of the subject invention. One type of well-known resetting mechanism (not shown) provides the gear wheel 37 for driving the first counting wheel 15 and the carry transfer gears 84 and 85 on disks which are separate from the counting wheel proper. In that type of mechanism, each counting wheel proper would be coupled to the mounting shaft 19 by a ratchet device that permits resetting of the totalizing counter by rotation of the shaft 19 in one directiomsimilarly, the gear wheels 37, 84 and 85 would be coupled to the counting wheel proper by ratchet devices that would permit driven advancement of the counting wheels during the counting process. In addition, the servo wheels 75, 77 and 79 would be geared to the counting wheel proper of each corresponding counting wheel.

An alternative known resetting mechanism which is similar to, the reset mechanism shown in the above mentioned US. Pat. No. 3,231,190 is shown in FIG. 57

In that type of mechanism, the shaft 26 which carries the drive pinion 36 and the transfer pinions 23 and 25 is mounted on a movable bracket 120. The bracket 120,

in turn, is mountedon a pivot shaft 121 and has an operating handle 122 attached thereto. A spring 123 acts on the operating handle 122 to bias the pinion 36 into meshing engagement with the gear wheels 34 and 37, and to bias the transfer pinions 23 and 25 into meshing engagement with the transfer gears 84 and 85, respectively. A counter resetting operation is initiated by a depression of the operating handle 122 to the posi- -tion shown in dotted outline at 125. This swings the pinions 24, 25 and 36 out of engagement with their respective gear wheels so as to permit free rotation of the counting wheels 15, l6 and 17.

Each counting wheel 15, 16 and 17 is provided with a heart-shaped cam 127, 128 or 129 for resetting purposes. Each cam 128 has a corresponding resetting arm 131 attached to the bracket 120. When the actuating handle 122 is depressed downwardly, the resetting arms engage the resetting cams, thereby causing rotation of the counting wheels to the initial or zero position. .An important feature of the preferred embodiment of the subject invention will be noted at this juncture. Because of the illustrated construction in which the shaft 51 which carries the servo wheels 75, 77 and 79 is parallel to the shaft 19 which carries the counting wheels 15, 16 and 17, there are no unnecessary bevel gears or other type of superfluous gearing between the counting wheels and the servo wheels. Accordingly, the servo wheels are reset together with the counting wheels in a most efficient manner characterized by low frictional losses, high speed and a minimum of wear and tear. The same benefits accrue from the contact arrangement and construction according to the subject invention in which the-contacts 87 and 88, 89 and 91, and 92 and 93 are in electrically conducting frictional engagement with each other in only one relative position of the servo and presetting wheels. In this manner, no contact will drag along another contact during the entire resetting process or during any major part thereof.

The utility and vast field of application of the presetting counters according to the subject invention will be obvious or become apparent to those skilled in the presetting counter art and familiar .with the many prior-art applications of presetting counters. An illustrative example is, nevertheless, shown in FIG. 2.

According to FIG. 2, a battery or other electric current source 134 and a relay 135 are connected in series to the terminals 95 and 96. By way of example, the relay 135 is shown as controlling a magnetic tape recorder 136 having, for instance, a supply reel 136, a takeup reel 138, a recording and/or playback head 139 and a capstan 141 for advancing a magnetic recording tape 142. Conventional tape drive means have not been shown in the drawings.

Before starting the tape recorder, the operator makes a decision as to the location on the tape at which he wishes the tape recorder to stop automatically. He then sets the presetting wheels 45, 46 and 47 to a count corresponding to that location (such as in terms of inches or centimeters of tape length). Before or after the presetting operation, he resets the totalizing counter 13 to zero position, assuming that the recording tape 142 is initially at that position. The tape recorder 136 is then started by closing a switch 144. This causes the battery or current source 134 to energize the drive motor of the tape recorder through a normally closed contact 145 of the relay 135. It will be appreciated that the contacts on the presetting and servo wheels are not in electrically conducting engagement at that juncture. The tape recorder has an output shaft 147 connected to the counter input shaft 29 as indicated by phantom lines 148. The output shaft 147 is driven in unison with the capstan 142 so as to reflect a progressing count of the extend of tape advance. If desired, the output shaft 147 may be driven by a conventional metering wheel (not shown).

In this manner, the count of the totalizing counter 13 indicates the extent of tape advance. The contacts 87 and 88, 89 and 91, and 92 and 93 are in mutual engagement as shown in FIG. 2 when the count of the totalizing counter 13 has caught up with the count of the presetting wheels 41, 42 and 43. At that instant, the relay 135 is energized by the battery 134 through the series-connected contacts 87, 88, 89, 91, 92 and 93. Accordingly, the relay opens its normally closed contact 145 and interrupts the energization of the tape recorder 136. The recording tape 142 therefore stops at the desired position. When the operator wishes to resume the recording or playback operation, he first opens the switch 144 to prevent premature energization of the recorder 136. He then sets the presetting wheels 41, 42 and 43 to the next desired count and recloses the switch 144. This will restart the recording tape and will re-initiate the operation of the resetting counter 10. In this manner, the operator need not pay great attention to the advancement of the recording tape, trying to catch a particular tape position at which a recording or playback operation is to commence or at which a recording or playback operation is to terminate. Rather, he can leave that cumbersome task to the presetting counter.

In some situations, such as during tape advance at fast forward speed, it is easy for the counter to override its preset goal. To avoid such occurrences, the preferred illustrated embodiment of the invention provides means for selectively bypassing the contacts 87 and 88 associated with the first presetting wheel 41 and the first and fastest servo wheel 75. These means include an electric contact brush 151 which is in sliding engagement with the slip ring 101 and which may be selectively connected to the terminal or relay by a normally open switch 152. As long as the switch 152 is open, the contacts 87 and 88 have to be in mutual engagement in addition to the contacts 89 and 91 and 92 and 93 before the relay 135 will be energized. However, as long as the contact 152 is closed, the relay 135 will be energized as soon as the contacts 89 and 91 have moved into mutual engagement in addition to the contacts 92 and 93. The switch 152 may be ganged with a fast forward switch 154 of the tape recorder 136 so that the contact bypass means are only effective during advancement of the tape at fast forward speed.

It should be understood that similar bypass means may also or alternatively be provided for the other contact pairs to provide for a selective deactivation of any presetting and servo wheel combination that may not be required during a particular application.

A totalizing counter with visible indicia will not be required in every application of the predetermining counter according to the subject invention. For instance, in the application shown in FIG. 2, the interest of having a totalizing counter with visible indicia may be outweighed by the interest of having a rugged and inexpensive design. For example, if operators of a particular type of recorder are not interest in knowing at every instant how much tape has been advanced, but are rather interested in having the recorder stop at a predetermined tape location, a visible totalizing counter may be dispensed with. In that case, the indicia on the counting wheels, 15, 16 and 17 may be dispensed with. This may be carried one step further by dispensing with the counting wheels 15, 16 and 17 as such, with the servo wheels 75, 77 and 79, and with the pinions 76, 78 and 81. The contact blades 99, 104 and 108 may then take the place of the counting wheel propers, to be actuated by the gears 37, 84 and 85 in such a manner that the contacts 88, 91 and 93 rotate in a plane parallel and adjacent to the corresponding presetting wheel for selective electrically conducting engagement with the contacts 87, 89 and 92, respectively. These and similar modifications are within the spirit and scope of the subject invention.

Iclaim:

1. In a predetermining counter having a rotatable first counting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, a rotatable second counting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, carry transfer means between said first and second counting wheels, a

manually settable, rotatable first presetting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, a manually settable, rotatable second presetting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, means for releasably retaining said first and second presetting wheels in manually set positions, a rotatable first servo wheel rotatably mounted coaxially with said first presetting wheel and geared to said first counting wheel, and a second servo wheel rotatably mounted coaxially with said second presetting wheel and geared to said second counting wheel, counter input means for driving said first counting wheel,.means for resetting said first and second counting wheels and said first and second servo wheels, the improvement comprising in combination:

a pair of first and second contacts, one of said first and second contacts being mounted on said first presetting wheel at a predetermined location relative to said indicia of said first presetting wheel, the other of said first and second contacts being mounted on said first servo wheel at a location corresponding to said predetermined location in termsof said indicia of said first counting wheel to which said first servo wheel is geared, and said first and second contacts being constructed to be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only one relative position of said first presetting wheel and first servo wheel;

a pair of third and fourth contacts, one of said third and fourth contacts being mounted on said second presetting wheel at a predetermined location relative to said indicia of said second presetting wheel, the other of said third and fourth contacts being mounted on said second servo wheel at a location corresponding to said predetermined location at which said one of said third and fourth contacts is mounted, in terms of said indicia of said second counting wheel to which said second servo wheel is geared, and said'third and fourth contacts being constructed to be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only one relative position' of said second presetting wheel and second servo wheel;

first electrical terminal means and second electrical terminal means; and

means for electrically connecting said pair of first and second contacts and said pair of third and fourth contacts in series between said first and second terminal means.

2. A counter as claimed in claim 1, including in said combination:

means for selectively bypassing one pair of said pair of first and second contacts and said pair of third and fourth contacts in said series-connected contact pairs.

3. A counter as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said carry transfer means and said first and second counting wheels include means for advancing said second counting wheel by a step corresponding to one of said indicia on said second counting wheel for every revolution of said first counting wheel; and

said electrical connecting means include means for selectively bypassing said pair of first and second contacts in said series-connected contact pairs.

4. A counter as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said electrical connecting means include a shaft for rotatably mounting said first and second presetting wheels and'said first and second servo wheels, at least a portion of said shaft comprising electrically conductive material, and said electrical connecting means further including means for electrically connecting said shaft portion to said first electrical terminal means, and means for electrically con- 1 necting said pair of first and second contacts and said pair of third and fourth contacts in series between said shaft portion and said second electri cal terminal means.

5. A counter as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said shaft has at least one series of circumferentially disposed cavities at said portion corresponding in number to said circumferentially disposed indicia; and

said electrical connecting means include detent means of electrically conducting material electrically connected between said portion and one of said contacts and located at said series of cavities, and means for resiliently pressing said detent means toward saidshaft portion.

6. A predetermining counter comprising in combination:

a totalizing counter including a first counting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, a second counting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, means including a first shaft for rotatably mounting said first and second counting wheels, and carry transfer means between said first and second counting wheels;

counter input means for driving said totalizing counter;

a first presetting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia;

a second presetting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia;

means including a second shaft spaced from and parallel to said first shaft for rotatably mounting said first and second presetting wheels;

means for manually setting said first and second presetting wheels;

means for releasably retaining said first and second presetting wheels in manually set positions;

a first servo wheel rotatably mounted coaxially with said first presetting wheel and geared to said first counting wheel;

a second servo wheel rotatably mounted coaxially with said second presetting wheel and geared to said-second counting wheel;

means for resetting said totalizing counter and said first and second servo wheels;

a pair of first and second contacts, one of said first and second contacts being mounted on said first presetting wheel at a predetermined location relative to said indicia of said first presetting wheel, the other of said first and second contacts being mounted on said first servo wheel at a location corresponding to said predetermined location in terms of said indicia of said first counting wheel to which said first servo wheel is geared, and said first and second contacts being constructed to be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only one relative position of said first presetting wheel and first servo wheel;

a pair of third and fourth contacts, one of said third and fourth contacts being mounted on said second presetting wheel ata predetermined location relativeto said indicia of said second presetting wheel, the otherof said third and fourth contacts being mounted on said second servo wheel at a location corresponding to said predetermined location at which said one .of said. third and fourth contacts is mounted, in terms of said indicia of said second counting wheel to which said second servo wheel is geared, and said third and fourth contacts being constructed to be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only one relative positionof said secondpresetting wheel and second servo wheel;

first electrical terminal means and second electrical terminal meansyandmeans for electrically connecting said pair of first and second contacts and said pair of third and fourth contacts. in series between said first and second terminal means.

7. A counter as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said means for manually presetting said first and second presetting'wheels include a manually engageable first circumferential rim portion on said first presetting wheel extending outwardly beyond outer confines of said predetermining counter, and a manually engageable second circumferential rim portion on said secondpresetting wheel extending outwardly beyond outer confines of said predetermining counter.

8. A counter as claimed in claim 6, including in said combination:

means for selectively bypassing one pair of said pair of first and second contacts and said pair of third and fourth contacts in said series-connected contact pairs.

9.-A counter as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said carry transfer means and said first and second counting wheels include means for advancing said second counting wheel by a step corresponding to one of said indicia'on said second counting wheel for every revolution of said first counting wheel;

and

said electrical connecting means include means for selectively bypassing said pair of first and second contacts in said series-connected contact pairs.

10. A counter as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

at least a portion of said second shaft is of electrically conductive material; and

said electrical connecting means include means for electrically connecting said shaft portion to said first electrical terminal means, and means for electrically connecting said pair of first and second contacts and said pair of third and fourth contacts in series between said shaft portion and said second electrical terminal means.

11. A counter as claimed-in claim 1, wherein:

said means for releasably retaining said first and second presetting-wheels in manually set positions include a first series ofcircumferentially disposed cavities in said second shaft, said first series of cavities being located at said first presetting wheel and correspondinginnumber to said indicia of said first presetting-wheel, first detent means mounted on said'first-presetting wheel for succesbination:

a first presetting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia;

a second presetting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia;

means for rotatably mounting said first and second presetting wheels;

means for manually setting said first and second presetting wheels;

means for releasably retaining said first and second presetting wheels in manually set positions;

a first contact mounted on said first presetting wheel at a predetermined location relative to the indicia of said first presetting wheel;

a second contact;

first mounting means for mounting said second contact for rotation in a first plane parallel and adjacent to said first presetting wheel and for selective electrically conducting engagement with said first contact, said first and second contacts being constructed to be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only one relative position of said first presetting wheel and said rotating second contact;

a third contact mounted on said second presetting wheel at a predetermined location relative to the indicia of said second presetting wheel;

a fourth contact;

second mounting means for mounting said fourth contact for rotation in a second plane parallel and adjacent to said second presetting wheel and for selective electrically conducting engagement with said third contact, said third and fourth contacts being constructed to be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only one relative position of said second presetting wheel and said rotating fourth contact;

counter input means;

means coupled to said counter input means and said first and second mounting means for positioning said second contact into electrically conducting engagement with said first contact, and said fourth contact into electrically conducting engagement with said third contact in response to a count corresponding to the setting of the first and second presetting wheels;

first electrical terminal means and second electrical terminal means;

means for electrically connecting said first, second, third and fourth contacts in series between said first and second electrical terminal means; and

means for selectively resetting said second and fourth contacts to a predetermined initial position.

13. A counter as claimed in claim 12, including in said combination:

means for selectively bypassing predetermined ones of said first, second, third and fourth contacts.

14. A counter as claimed inclaim 12, wherein: said contact positioning means include means for advancing said fourth contact by a step corresponding to one of said indicia on said second presetting wheel for every revolution of said,second contact; and

said electrical connecting means include means for selectively bypassing said first and second contacts in said series-connected first, second, third and fourth contacts.

15. A counter as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said electrical connecting means include a shaft for rotatably mounting said first and second presetting wheels, at least a portion of said shaft comprising electrically conductive material, and said electrical connecting means further including means for electrically connecting said shaft portion to said first electrical terminal means, and means for electrically connecting said first, second, third and fourth contacts in series between said shaft portion and said second electrical terminal means.

16. A counter as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said shaft has at least one series of circumferentially disposed cavities at said portion corresponding in number to said circumferentially disposed indicia; and

said electrical connecting means include detent means of electrically conducting material electrically connected between said portion and one of said contacts and located at said series of cavities, and means for resiliently pressing said detent means toward said shaft portion.

17. A counter as claimed in claim 12, wherein: saidmeans for rotatably mounting said first and second presetting wheelsvinclude a-shaft; and

said means for releasably retaining said l-first and second presetting wheels in manually set positions include a first series olcavities andicorresponding detent means disposed in said shaft said first presetting wheel for releasably retaining said first presetting wheel in manually set positions, and a second series of cavities and corresponding detent means disposed in 'said shaft and said second presetting wheel for releasably retaining said second presetting wheel in manually set positions.

18. A counter as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said means for manually presetting said first and 

1. In a predetermining counter having a rotatable first counting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, a rotatable second counting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, carry transfer means between said first and second counting wheels, a manually settable, rotatable first presetting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, a manually settable, rotatable second presetting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, means for releasably retaining said first and second presetting wheels in manually set positions, a rotatable first servo wheel rotatably mounted coaxially with said first presetting wheel and geared to said first counting wheel, and a second servo wheel rotatably mounted coaxially with said second presetting wheel and geared to said second counting wheel, counter input means for driving said first counting wheel, means for resetting said first and second counting wheels and said first and second servo wheels, the improvement comprising in combination: a pair of first and second contacts, one of said first and second contacts being mounted on said first presetting wheel at a predetermined location relative to said indicia of said first presetting wheel, the other of said first and second contacts being mounted on said first servo wheel at a location corresponding to said predetermined location in terms of said indicia of said first counting wheel to which said first servo wheel is geared, and said first and second contacts being constructed to be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only one relative position of said first presetting wheel aNd first servo wheel; a pair of third and fourth contacts, one of said third and fourth contacts being mounted on said second presetting wheel at a predetermined location relative to said indicia of said second presetting wheel, the other of said third and fourth contacts being mounted on said second servo wheel at a location corresponding to said predetermined location at which said one of said third and fourth contacts is mounted, in terms of said indicia of said second counting wheel to which said second servo wheel is geared, and said third and fourth contacts being constructed to be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only one relative position of said second presetting wheel and second servo wheel; first electrical terminal means and second electrical terminal means; and means for electrically connecting said pair of first and second contacts and said pair of third and fourth contacts in series between said first and second terminal means.
 2. A counter as claimed in claim 1, including in said combination: means for selectively bypassing one pair of said pair of first and second contacts and said pair of third and fourth contacts in said series-connected contact pairs.
 3. A counter as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said carry transfer means and said first and second counting wheels include means for advancing said second counting wheel by a step corresponding to one of said indicia on said second counting wheel for every revolution of said first counting wheel; and said electrical connecting means include means for selectively bypassing said pair of first and second contacts in said series-connected contact pairs.
 4. A counter as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said electrical connecting means include a shaft for rotatably mounting said first and second presetting wheels and said first and second servo wheels, at least a portion of said shaft comprising electrically conductive material, and said electrical connecting means further including means for electrically connecting said shaft portion to said first electrical terminal means, and means for electrically connecting said pair of first and second contacts and said pair of third and fourth contacts in series between said shaft portion and said second electrical terminal means.
 5. A counter as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said shaft has at least one series of circumferentially disposed cavities at said portion corresponding in number to said circumferentially disposed indicia; and said electrical connecting means include detent means of electrically conducting material electrically connected between said portion and one of said contacts and located at said series of cavities, and means for resiliently pressing said detent means toward said shaft portion.
 6. A predetermining counter comprising in combination: a totalizing counter including a first counting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, a second counting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia, means including a first shaft for rotatably mounting said first and second counting wheels, and carry transfer means between said first and second counting wheels; counter input means for driving said totalizing counter; a first presetting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia; a second presetting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia; means including a second shaft spaced from and parallel to said first shaft for rotatably mounting said first and second presetting wheels; means for manually setting said first and second presetting wheels; means for releasably retaining said first and second presetting wheels in manually set positions; a first servo wheel rotatably mounted coaxially with said first presetting wheel and geared to said first counting wheel; a second servo wheel rotatably mounted coaxially with said second presetting wheel and geared to said second counting wheel; means for resetting said totalizinG counter and said first and second servo wheels; a pair of first and second contacts, one of said first and second contacts being mounted on said first presetting wheel at a predetermined location relative to said indicia of said first presetting wheel, the other of said first and second contacts being mounted on said first servo wheel at a location corresponding to said predetermined location in terms of said indicia of said first counting wheel to which said first servo wheel is geared, and said first and second contacts being constructed to be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only one relative position of said first presetting wheel and first servo wheel; a pair of third and fourth contacts, one of said third and fourth contacts being mounted on said second presetting wheel at a predetermined location relative to said indicia of said second presetting wheel, the other of said third and fourth contacts being mounted on said second servo wheel at a location corresponding to said predetermined location at which said one of said third and fourth contacts is mounted, in terms of said indicia of said second counting wheel to which said second servo wheel is geared, and said third and fourth contacts being constructed to be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only one relative position of said second presetting wheel and second servo wheel; first electrical terminal means and second electrical terminal means; and means for electrically connecting said pair of first and second contacts and said pair of third and fourth contacts in series between said first and second terminal means.
 7. A counter as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said means for manually presetting said first and second presetting wheels include a manually engageable first circumferential rim portion on said first presetting wheel extending outwardly beyond outer confines of said predetermining counter, and a manually engageable second circumferential rim portion on said second presetting wheel extending outwardly beyond outer confines of said predetermining counter.
 8. A counter as claimed in claim 6, including in said combination: means for selectively bypassing one pair of said pair of first and second contacts and said pair of third and fourth contacts in said series-connected contact pairs.
 9. A counter as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said carry transfer means and said first and second counting wheels include means for advancing said second counting wheel by a step corresponding to one of said indicia on said second counting wheel for every revolution of said first counting wheel; and said electrical connecting means include means for selectively bypassing said pair of first and second contacts in said series-connected contact pairs.
 10. A counter as claimed in claim 1, wherein: at least a portion of said second shaft is of electrically conductive material; and said electrical connecting means include means for electrically connecting said shaft portion to said first electrical terminal means, and means for electrically connecting said pair of first and second contacts and said pair of third and fourth contacts in series between said shaft portion and said second electrical terminal means.
 11. A counter as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said means for releasably retaining said first and second presetting wheels in manually set positions include a first series of circumferentially disposed cavities in said second shaft, said first series of cavities being located at said first presetting wheel and corresponding in number to said indicia of said first presetting wheel, first detent means mounted on said first presetting wheel for successively entering said cavities of said first series, means for biasing said detent means toward said second shaft, a second series of circumferentially disposed cavities in said second shaft, said second series of cavities being located at said second presetting wheel and corresponding in number to said indicia of said second presetting wheel, second detent means mounted on said second presetting wheel for successively entering said cavities of said second series, and further means for biasing said second detent means toward said second shaft.
 12. A predetermining counter comprising in combination: a first presetting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia; a second presetting wheel with circumferentially disposed indicia; means for rotatably mounting said first and second presetting wheels; means for manually setting said first and second presetting wheels; means for releasably retaining said first and second presetting wheels in manually set positions; a first contact mounted on said first presetting wheel at a predetermined location relative to the indicia of said first presetting wheel; a second contact; first mounting means for mounting said second contact for rotation in a first plane parallel and adjacent to said first presetting wheel and for selective electrically conducting engagement with said first contact, said first and second contacts being constructed to be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only one relative position of said first presetting wheel and said rotating second contact; a third contact mounted on said second presetting wheel at a predetermined location relative to the indicia of said second presetting wheel; a fourth contact; second mounting means for mounting said fourth contact for rotation in a second plane parallel and adjacent to said second presetting wheel and for selective electrically conducting engagement with said third contact, said third and fourth contacts being constructed to be in electrically conducting engagement with each other in only one relative position of said second presetting wheel and said rotating fourth contact; counter input means; means coupled to said counter input means and said first and second mounting means for positioning said second contact into electrically conducting engagement with said first contact, and said fourth contact into electrically conducting engagement with said third contact in response to a count corresponding to the setting of the first and second presetting wheels; first electrical terminal means and second electrical terminal means; means for electrically connecting said first, second, third and fourth contacts in series between said first and second electrical terminal means; and means for selectively resetting said second and fourth contacts to a predetermined initial position.
 13. A counter as claimed in claim 12, including in said combination: means for selectively bypassing predetermined ones of said first, second, third and fourth contacts.
 14. A counter as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said contact positioning means include means for advancing said fourth contact by a step corresponding to one of said indicia on said second presetting wheel for every revolution of said second contact; and said electrical connecting means include means for selectively bypassing said first and second contacts in said series-connected first, second, third and fourth contacts.
 15. A counter as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said electrical connecting means include a shaft for rotatably mounting said first and second presetting wheels, at least a portion of said shaft comprising electrically conductive material, and said electrical connecting means further including means for electrically connecting said shaft portion to said first electrical terminal means, and means for electrically connecting said first, second, third and fourth contacts in series between said shaft portion and said second electrical terminal means.
 16. A counter as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said shaft has at least one series of circumferentially disposed cavities at said portion corresponding in number to said circumferentially disposed indicia; And said electrical connecting means include detent means of electrically conducting material electrically connected between said portion and one of said contacts and located at said series of cavities, and means for resiliently pressing said detent means toward said shaft portion.
 17. A counter as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said means for rotatably mounting said first and second presetting wheels include a shaft; and said means for releasably retaining said first and second presetting wheels in manually set positions include a first series of cavities and corresponding detent means disposed in said shaft and said first presetting wheel for releasably retaining said first presetting wheel in manually set positions, and a second series of cavities and corresponding detent means disposed in said shaft and said second presetting wheel for releasably retaining said second presetting wheel in manually set positions.
 18. A counter as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said means for manually presetting said first and second presetting wheels include a manually engageable first circumferential rim portion on said first presetting wheel extending outwardly beyond outer confines of said predetermining counter, and a manually engageable second circumferential rim portion on said second presetting wheel extending outwardly beyond outer confines of said predetermining counter. 